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Saturday, 3 June 2017

Saturday this and that . . .

As a person who loves to share, I shared these cute dishclothes that I made with you all the other day. Also as a person who loves to share, I took the time yesterday to do and photograph a tutorial of how to make them for you! I had seen some really cute dishcloths like this on Monique's blog that she had been gifted with and I fell in love. I could not find a pattern for them, so I made up my own and here it is!

For each of my dishclothes I used one each of three colours of 100% cotton yarn. I like the variagated, plus a white, plus a solid colour from the variagated yarn for the trim. The pattern is a basic Granny square, with a scalloped edge trim. My yarn is Ricco Design Creative Cotton Aran, which is a 10 ply cotton yarn.

This type of yarn is perfect for working with a size G - 5.0 mm hook, and that is what I used. I really like these rubber grip hooks for ease of use.

To begin a Granny Square you can just chain four stitches and join to make a circle, but for these I want to be able to draw the centre in tight to close it, and so I used the loop method. Make a look with your yarn, leaving a tail to the left side. Insert your hook into the centre of the loop and pull up a loop through the centre to the front of the loop . . .

Use this look and chain three . . .

Now do two double crochets into the loop and chain two, do *three double crochets into the loop and chain two* again. (This is called a cluster.)

Repeat this ** until you have four clusters and four chain two's.

Take that tail you have from making that circle at the beginning and pull it up tight to close the centre, and then weave the tail into your crocheting at the back.

Slip your hook into the top of the chain three from the first row and pull some yarn through to join your circle.

Like so. You should have four clusters and four chain two spaces, which will become the corners of your Granny squares. Now slip stitch across the top of that first cluster by sticking your hook in and pulling up a thread all across the top of the cluster, taking you into the first chain two space with another slip stitch.

Chain three in that space . . .

Do two double crochets next to the chain three, then chain two and do three double crochets, all in that first chain two space which was created in round one.

Insert your hook into the second corner chain two space and do *three double crochet, chain two, three double crochet*. Repeat this in the next two corner chain spaces until you have four corners, each consisting of two clusters with a chain two in the middle of them.. (Note - You do NOT make any chains between the corner clusters and each other.) Now join the last corner cluster to the first corner cluster in the top of the chain three (which counts as the first double crochet in your first cluster) with a slip stitch.

Slip stitch across the top of the first cluster to the first corner chain two space.

Chain three into the chain two space of the previous round. Do two double crochets into the space, chain two and then three double crochets. Stick your hook into the space after the corner crochet cluster of the previous row and do a three double crochet cluster, then move your hook into the next corner and do a three double crochet, chain two three double crochet into that corner. Repeat this all around, doing a cluster in between the corner clusters of the previous row and a corner cluster into each corner. You will end up with four corner clusters, each with one cluster in between the corners if that makes sense.

Here you should be able to see two corners finished, one cluster in the centre of the first two corners and I have finished a cluster in the centre of the row and am getting ready to do a corner cluster in the next corner.

Once again, join this round together by making a slip stitch into the top of the crochet three at the beginning of the previous round. Just pull up a loop . . .

and pull it through the loop on your hook. (that is a slip stitch) Now slip stitch across the top of that cluster to the corner chain two space, pull up a loop

Like so . . .

Chain three . . . and continue on as before, crocheting a corner cluster (three double crochet chain two three double crochet) into each corner and a three double crochet cluster in the spaces in between going all the way around the previous row and ending with a slip stitch into the top of the chain three (which counts as the first double crochet) that you began with on that row.

Repeat this action until you have five rows completed. Cut the yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook to finish it off.

You will have a small tail, but you just weave that into the stitches of the last row using your hook.

Just like that . . . this is what it should look like.

Now make a loop with your white yarn . . .

Using your hook, pull that look of white yarn into the corner of the first corner cluster.

Chain three, two double crochet, chain two, three double crochet, all into that corner cluster.

Move to the next space, cluster, then repeat the cluster in between each cluster of the row below all the way across to the next corner, corner cluster and repeat that all the way around, until you get back to the first corner cluster you did . . .

Slip stitch into the top of the chain three at the beginning of the cluster below and cut the yarn.

Once again, weave that tail into the stitches of your row to hide it like before. You now have a granny square and are ready to begin the trim.

Attach your trim colour to the centre of the first corner, by pulling in a loop, then chain one. (This will count as a single crochet) then chain three and single crochet into the corner.

Chain three and single crochet in between each cluster all the way
across the round to the next corner.

Just like so . . . aall the way to the next corner . . .

Single crochet, chain three,
single crochet in the next corner . . .

Repeat this all the way around, joining with a slip stitch into the top of the chain which acted as your first single crochet of the round to join them all together. Pull up a loop and do a *single crochet, half double crochet, two double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet* into the corner. This is a scallop.

Repeat these scallops (**) into every chain three space of the previous round, all the way around the granny square.

Join with a slip stitch to the first cluster and cut your yarn. Weave the tail end into the stitches of your previous yarn with your hook.

You now have a finished dish cloth. The end.

How to do:
Single crochet - see it here.
Half double crochet - see it here.
Double crochet - see it here.

You can do them in all sorts of colours, or even in a solid colour. (If you do a solid colour you can skip the ending off and the adding of the new colours and just keep moving smoothly from one round into the next.) I quite like the variagated colours with the co-ordinating scallop trim.

I am not sure if this was helpful or not, or if you can follow it at all, but I really hope that you can! I don't think I am the greatest pattern writer! I can write a recipe very easily, but this was a bit more complicated I suppose. I put in every single step for those who are just learning to crochet.

As you can see they go together

really quickly. In just a

couple of days, I have

created

five.

Here we are into June already! It doesn't seem possible. This year is just whipping by. I know I say that every month, but I am surprised each time one passes us by so quickly! I want time to go a bit slower. When I was a child the days seemed to last forever, but as an adult, they seem to slip through my fingers like water. Is this the same for everyone? Please Father Time will you not just walk a tiny bit slower for me!

Todd goes this coming week on Wednesday to see the Cancer Specialist. I am praying that the Radiation Therapy did what it was supposed to do. He is my world. We have always done everything together, even working together for most of our married life. I want him to be well again. He is not a man who ever complains about anything. If he isn't well and expresses it, then I know he is really not well. It doesn't happen very often. He hardly ever even gets a sniffle. I am dreading Wednesday. I am trying to be hopeful, but I am still afraid. I guess that is normal. Please keep us in your prayers. (I feel cheeky asking.)

Our good friend Tony (of Tina and Tony) fell off a ladder doing something in their garden day before yesterday. Thankfully he did not break anything but they kept him in the hospital overnight for observation. He is home now and in a lot of pain but is supposed to rest for six weeks. That will be very hard for him as he is a man who likes to be up and doing. Please also keep them in your prayers.

I loved seeing your tutorial on the dish clothes. You make it look simple and easy for sure. I have done some in my time but not as pretty and nice as yours. Your Todd and friends Tony and Suzan are in my prayers. It's an honor for me to pray for others and am happy to do so. Time certainly has been speeding by here too and it's hard to believe it's almost summer.

I have never minded being with Todd 24/7 Monique! We are equals in everything. We never lord it over each other and we are just best friends. Maybe it one of the gifts of old age, this lovely companionship that we enjoy so very much! I really do hope that you can come to terms with it Monique, the crocheting that is. Once you get it, you will be a crocheting monster I predict pretty dishclothes in everyone's Christmas Stocking this year! Hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend. Today started off sunny, but has clouded over a bit now. Will it rain or not? It remains to be seen! xoxo

Thanks Pam! I really hope that I can help someone to make something new and pretty! Your prayers are very much appreciated. Very much. Love and hugs, xoxo

Hi Marie! I will def pray for ur Todd, ur good friend Tony, and ur dear friend Suze! I like ur thought for a day. The next time someone's cranky around me, I'll say that little verse. Lol.Wow, look at you, now ur even writing out a tutorial for crocheting! Your a woman of all trades!So looking forward to when u bake ur orange muffins bc those are my fav. This way I can bake both kinds when my grands are here, bc some of them are fussy. Writing this here bc my phone won't work right on ur other site, but the other day it did. Go figure! I'm way over due for a new phone bc it's been 3 yrs.At least I got my monies worth! I need to hold off til fall, when the new ones come out.I can't believe that we are already into June! I hope summer will go alittle bit slower!Wishing u, ur Todd and all ur friends, good health! xo

I will be on the lookout for a good orange muffin recipe J! Thanks for all your good wished! Xoxo

Monique you can also do a chain loop( circle) to begin with, I just do the one I do because I like to,pull it tight in the middle! I really hope you will find this tutorial helpful! I didn't mind doing it at all. Xoxo

I think I am addicted too Kay! I've been crocheting one or two every day! Guess what everyone's getting for .Christmas! Haha thanks for your prayers and happy thoughts! Much appreciated! Xoxo

Wow, thanks for your tutorial. I wouldlove to learn to make these washcloths. What a perfect gift they will make. I will continue praying for Todd and you and that the report is good. There is is always fear in these moments but trust in God. I am sure the news will be good. My husband is the same way. He doesn't complain and when he does; it is usually more serious. I will also pray for your friends! Blessings and hugs for you two!